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Barack Obama gives final speech as president in Chicago – live President Barack Obama gives farewell speech in Chicago – live
(35 minutes later)
1.42am GMT 2.26am GMT
01:42 02:26
David Smith Obama continues to talk about race and the divisions in American, getting huge cheers from the thousands in the audience.
Emotions are already running high at the McCormick Place convention centre in Chicago. The make up of the crowd – male and female, young and old, diverse in race and religion – is itself a statement about the outgoing president. He quotes Attitcus Finch from Harper Lee’s classic To Kill a Mockingbird, who said “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”
Sheila Baldwin, a 64-year-old African American, who got her ticket on Saturday after queuing from 5am, said: “My ancestors would appreciate and insist I see this historic event. It was thrilling for us to see my mother, who is 91, witness the first black president; now to see it come full circle is a wonderful moment.” Obama continues, specifically identifying groups that were often topics of political discussions during the 2016 election:
Reflecting on the divisive presidential election, Baldwin, a university associate professor in Chicago, added: “If anyone can heal the country and bring it together, I think President Obama can. The country is in for a huge shock with Donald Trump and hopefully he can do the right thing. It’s not going to be smooth sailing.” For blacks and other minorities, it means tying our own struggles for justice to the challenges that a lot of people in this country face – the refugee, the immigrant, the rural poor, the transgender American, and also the middle-aged white man who from the outside may seem like he’s got all the advantages, but who’s seen his world upended by economic, cultural, and technological change.
The vast arena already appears full with thousands of people seated and thousands more standing at the back – some have complained about the poor view they will have of Obama. There are multiple giant TV screens, a huge stars and stripes and a giant presidential seat set against a deep blue curtain. Musicians are currently performing. 2.23am GMT
The audience includes veteran Obama campaign staffers. Daniel and Cathy Nored, both 62, have flown in from Dallas, Georgia. Daniel, a computer technician, said: “My emotions are a little sad but I know he’s tired and wants to become an ordinary citizen. It’s bittersweet.” 02:23
Cathy, who works in human resources, added: “I think he will make another great speech but this is going to come from the heart.” Obama: post-racial America was 'never realistic'
Two Algerian-born Muslims, Meriem Sadoun and Hanane Bounar got tickets after queuing from 4am on Saturday. Bounar, 16, a student, said: “When I came to the US as an immigrant, he was the first president. For me to see him at the end is important.” Obama, the country’s first black president and son of a Kenyan immigrant, discusses race and immigration.
But Sadoun, 22, a university graduate, added: “If this was Donald Trump speaking, we probably wouldn’t be welcome in the crowd. The atmosphere would be different and not as welcoming.” “After my election, there was talk of a post-racial America. Such a vision, however well-intended, was never realistic. For race remains a potent and often divisive force in our society. I’ve lived long enough to know that race relations are better than they were ten, or twenty, or thirty years ago – you can see it not just in statistics, you see it in the attitudes of young Americans across the political spectrum,” he says.
1.20am GMT “But we’re not where we need to be.
01:20 “All of us have more work to do. After all, if every economic issue is framed as a struggle between a hardworking white middle class and undeserving minorities, then workers of all shades will be left fighting for scraps while the wealthy withdraw further into their private enclaves. If we decline to invest in the children of immigrants, just because they don’t look like us, we diminish the prospects of our own children – because those brown kids will represent a larger share of America’s workforce.”
Eddie Vedder, lead singer of Pearl Jam, is singing and talking to the crowd in advance of Obama’s speech. He spoke about hiring practices and discrimination in housing .
"People have the power." Eddie Vedder and the Chicago Children's Choir begin the program at #ObamaFarewell. pic.twitter.com/EZ2Q4Bi9YK 2.19am GMT
1.07am GMT 02:19
01:07 Obama on Obamacare
Axelrod calls it a night of 'very mixed' emotions In a week where the GOP is actively trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act - and president-elect Trump calls on it to happen as quickly as possible - Obama talks about healthcare. He notes that the uninsured rate is lower and health care costs rising tat the slowest rate in 50 years.
David Smith “If anyone can put together a plan that is demonstrably better than the improvements we’ve made to our health care system – that covers as many people at less cost – I will publicly support it,” he says
David Axelrod, Obama’s former chief strategist, told the Guardian: 2.17am GMT
I think he’s going to be very focused not just on what we’ve been able to accomplish but what we need to accomplish to keep our democracy. Democracy’s under siege right now. Democracy’s not a gift, it’s something that we have to work for and fight for, and I think he’ll address that. I think he’ll address the new president but not in a challenging way. 02:17
It is a night of “very mixed” emotions, Axelrod added. Obama calls on the country for unity, speaking about the power of democracy and unity.
“I’m proud of him and all that he’s accomplished, what he’s meant to this country, But I’m sad that the journey is over, at least this leg of it. I’ve known him for 25 years and I have maximum high regard for him,” Axelrod said. There have been moments throughout our history that threatened to rupture that solidarity. The beginning of this century has been one of those times. A shrinking world, growing inequality; demographic change and the specter of terrorism – these forces haven’t just tested our security and prosperity, but our democracy as well. And how we meet these challenges to our democracy will determine our ability to educate our kids, and create good jobs, and protect our homeland.
“Tonight I picked up the credential that said, ‘The president’s farewell address’. I have a drawer full of a hundred credentials from Iowa, the whole 2008 campaign, all my years at the White House, the 2012 campaign, and to pick up one that said farewell address was an emotional thing.” 2.15am GMT
02:15
The crowd starts booing when Obama refers to next week’s inauguration of president Trump. He tells the crowd to stop and notes the importance of “the peaceful transfer of power from one freely elected president to the next,” says Obama.
“I committed to president-elect Trump that my team would ensure the smoothest possible transition, just as president Bush did to me. Because it’s up to all of us to make sure our government can meet the many challenges we still face,” he says.
2.13am GMT
02:13
“America is a better, stronger place than it was when we started,” says Obama, listing the achievements of his administration, including same-sex marriage, the Iran deal and killing Osama bin Laden.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.26am GMT at 2.19am GMT
1.00am GMT 2.11am GMT
01:00 02:11
Good evening. It’s been exactly 2,989 days since Barack Obama addressed thousands of supporters gathered in Chicago’s Grant Park on election night in 2008. Watch Obama's speech live
Now he has returned to his home town to give his much-awaited presidential farewell speech tonight, which will focus on the themes of hope and grassroots change that first helped get him elected. The speech is on the White House YouTube channel
Obama is “not one to be overly sentimental”, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said after Air Force One touched down in Chicago this afternoon, although this speech is likely to be more emotional than most. 2.10am GMT
Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and George W Bush all gave their farewell speeches in the White House, but Obama chose to give his in the Windy City. 02:10
“I first came to Chicago when I was in my early 20s, still trying to figure out who I was, still searching for a purpose to my life,” said Obama, in an excerpt of the speech released by the White House. He speaks about “embracing all, not just some” to cheers.
The president will speak about optimism, grassroots politics and confidence in young Americans, Earnest said. 2.10am GMT
We will be live blogging the speech, which kicks off at 8pm CT (that’s 9pm ET). Reporter David Smith is already in the crowd. 02:10
At McCormick Place convention centre in Chicago for Barack Obama's farewell address. pic.twitter.com/nnlZO6WR2Q Obama pays tribute to civil rights and social justice activists, “men and women from Selma to Stonewall”
“That’s what we mean when we say America is exceptional. Not that we’ve been flawless from the start but that we show the capacity for change,” says Obama.
2.09am GMT
02:09
Obama talks abut moving to Chicago as a young man, then about the beauty of the republic and consitution.
“It’s the insistence that these rights, while so elegant have never been self-executing... that we the people through the instrument of our democracy can form a more perfect union. What a radical idea,” says Obama.
“For 240 years our nation’s call for citizenship has given work and purpose to each generation,” he says.
2.07am GMT
02:07
The crowd stops the speech with chants of “four more years”.
“I can’t do that!” says Obama.
2.06am GMT
02:06
“My fellow Americans, Michelle and I have been so touched by all the well-wishes that we’ve received over the last few weeks. Tonight it’s my turn to say thanks, whether we’ve seen eye to eye or rarely agreed at all,” says Obama.
He speaks about the importance of conversations with every day Americans.
“They’ve kept me honest, they’ve kept me inspired, they kept me going. Every day I’ve learn from you. You made a better president. You made a better man,” said Obama.
2.04am GMT
02:04
“You can tell that I’m a lame duck, because nobody is following instructions. Everybody have a seat,” quips Obama.